Grand-piano-body construction



April, 1, 1930. c. I orrscl-l 1,752,676

GRAND PIANO BODY CONSTRU'ION Filed 0G12. 26, 1925 i5- g @AZ/romy fj "L JNIV/EAfToRA.

Patented Apr. 1i, 193

UNITED STATES e CHARLES LOITSCI-I, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

GRAND-PIANO-BGDY CONSTRUCTION Application filed October 26, 1925.

This invention relates to pianos, and particularly to that type generally classified as grand pianos, and its chief object is to eliminate the usual inside rim and posts and to provide improvements in the construction thereof such as will give increased area to the sounding board with relation to a body structure of a given size to produce violin sound effect and also to permit of the planing and surface iinishing of the said sounding board before itis secured in position as a part of the general structure.

The structure herein described and herewith illustrated is an improvement on my previous United States Patent No. 1,560,288, issued Nov. 3, 1925, and differs from same in the following details;

The means for support of the string plate at its rear extremity; the further re-inforcement of the sounding board; and the bolting together of the forward members of the upper and lower elements of the frame structure.

Further details and improvements in construction will be disclosed in the following` specification, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the body of a grand piano with the various elements secured together as in the iinished form thereof; the string plate being partially in section.

Fig. 2 shows a sectional view on a smaller scale taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1. The position of the lower element partly removed, being indicated by dotted outline.

Fig. 3 shows an enlarged detail view of the construction in section on the line 3 8 of Figure 1.

Fig. 4 shows an enlarged detail view in section on the line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Fig. 5 shows an enlarged detail view of the string plate bracket on the line 5 5 of Figure 1.

The main elements of this construction are similar to those shown in the above mentioned invention of which this is an improvement; that is, the upper element has secured to t-he lower parts thereof a lower element 11, and glued, or otherwise suitably secured between the two, a sounding board 12. The

Serial No. 64,717.

juncture of the said elements by the molding 13.

In this present invention, it will be seen that the rear extremities of the string plate 14 are supported by screw studs as shown at 15, which are set in the bracket 16. A. clearance is provided between the edge of the string plate and the main casing as shown at 17, and further clearance is given around the screw stud as shown at 18. The side portion of the string plate 14 is supported on the bracket 19, being held in place by screws as shown at 20, and the forward part of the said string plate is supported by screw studs as shown at 21, these being set in the cross beam 22. The cross beam 22 is formed with a vertical portion 22a and an upper lateral portion22b. The studs 21 are set in the said lateral portion 221. It should be observed that vibrations from the string plate 14 are not directly transmitted to the vertical portion 22a, being damped by transmission first to the lateral portion 22b which acts to prevent the piano frame from vibrating. Clearance is provided at these points by apertures as shown at 23 in the sounding board. The screw studs 15 and 21 are provided with integral flanges 32 and 38 respectively for supporting the string plate 14 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Re-inforcing ribs as shown at 24 25 etc., are secured to the sounding board 12 and serve to prevent the warping, or distortion of same.

When in finished assembly; the lower element 11 with the sounding board 12 is secured to the member 26 by means of wood screws as shown at 27, the said member 26 being secured to the upper element 10 by means of dowels, screws and the like as indicated at 28, 29 and to the lower element by dowel 80 and screw 31.

It will be seen that this form of construction, together with the improved features herewith shown and described, combine to make an instrument of great structural strength and of largely increased volume and quality of tone, as compared to pianos built in the ordinary manner.

being covered Having thus described my invention, what i I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

In a grand piano, a lateral extension projecting from' a Vertical portion of a cross beam secured across a piano frame, and. a string plate supported on the said lateral extension so that Vibrations from the string plate are indirectly transmitted to the piano frame.

In testimony whereof I have aixed my signature.

CHARLES LOITSCH. 

